Improved washing-machine



PATENT OFFICE..

C. A.`CLARK, OF PULASKI, IOWA.

IMPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,290, dated June 28, 1864.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C. A. CLARK, of Pulaski, in the county of Davis and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Washing-Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this Specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of my improved machine at x Fig. 1, with the parts in position for washing. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with the parts in position for the insertion or removal of clothes. 3 is a horizontal section at y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The subject of my invention is a machine in which clot-hes may be washed and rinsed in several successive waters, or, it' desired, in constantly-running water, without removing the clothes from the machine.

The invention particularly consists in certain improved devices whereby the clothes may be readily put in and taken out and inspected and shifted whenever needful, and by means of which the water may be drawn off and changed without removing the clothes and without danger of losing small garments.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, l will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents a tub or box, which may be of square form, and from the back of which rises a standard, B, to the upper part of which is fulcrumed a lever, G.

D is a connecting-rod, pivoted at its upper end to the lever C and at its lower end to a plunger, E, which works within the box A.

F F are straps or bands of any suitable material secured to one side of the plunger, and adapted to pass beneath it and loop over pins f j' on the outer side. rlhe said bands are for the purpose of holding a quantity of clothes underneath the plunger while being washed. The box A is provided with a perforated or false bottom, G, some distance above the true bottom H.

I represents a plug, spigot, or faucet, of any suitable construction, which may be inserted in either side of the box close above the bottom H for the purpose of drawing oft' the water.V

Fig.

J is a hook pivoted to the standard B and employed to retain the plunger in its upper position for the purpose or removing or putting in clothes.

`K represents a mass of clothes strapped beneath the plunger. But one of the straps F is shown in the drawings. In practice two or more are by preference employed, being attached to the plunger in any suitable positions.

L L represent vertical strips, placed. on the inside of the tub A to permit the free ascent of water around the plunger E as the latter descends.

Operation: To insert or remove clothes the moving parts may be elevated to the position represented in Figs. 2 and 3, secured by the hook J', as shown. The straps F may then be unhitched from the pins f and laid over the top of the box ready for the reception of the clothes. The clothes being laid upon the straps, the plunger may be released from the hook J and turned down, the straps hitched over the pins f, and a vertical reciprocating motion imparted to the lever C. The straps serve to retain the clothes against the plunger closely enough to `malte them follow its motion and still permit them to change position continually, so that all parts of the clothes shall be subjected to the pressing ac` tion. At every descent of the plunger the clothes are squeezed against the perforated bottom G in such a manner as to cleanse them with great thoroughness and rapidity. The plunger may be made to tit the box so closely that no clothes can possibly escape its action. Whenever it is needful, the water may be drawn out by openin g or removing the spigot I, the spigot returned, and fresh water poured in at top without disturbing the clothes, so that it will be apparent that a quantity of clothes after once being placed in the machine may be washed and rinsed in as many waters as desired, after which the rinsingwater is drawn off and the clothes pressed against the perforated bottom, by which means they are dried sufficiently for hanging out. The entire process of washing, rinsing, and wringing is thus performed at one operation without removing the clothes.

The straps F are not essential to the invention. i

The clothes may be put in without strap ping to the plunger, and the lutter may, when D, plunger E, perforated bottom G, spigot I, clothes are to be inserted or removed, be .vertical strips L, and hook J, constructed, arturned back co1npletel5 out ofthe Wny. ranged, and operating in lthe manner and for With this Wayof using the machine the the purposes specified. hook J muy be dispensed with. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure Vitnesses: by Letters Patent, is D. K. GEORGE, The combination of the box A, lever C, rod E. J. SHELTON.

C. A. CLARK. 

